Special English Ms. Khrisna Mae C.

Gelogo
Unit 1. Pronoun
Pronoun came from the Latin pro nomine which means for
the noun. It is a word substituting for a noun or another Case: Like nouns, pronouns have case. Case is a category
pronoun. which one puts a noun or pronoun based on its function in
The noun for which the pronoun is a substitute is called the the sentence. But the personal pronouns and “who” have
antecedent (ante + cedo = to go before) of the pronoun, and distinct case forms:
the antecedent must always be a single word, either stated or Nominative Possessive Objective
implied. Sometimes, the antecedent can follow the pronoun. (Subjective)
Mark said that Mark would be late. I my, mine me
Mark said that he would be late. (The pronoun “he” you, ye your, yours you, ye
substitutes for the noun “Mark.” “Mark” is the antecedent of thou thy, thine thee
“he.”) he his him
After he built the fire, Chuck died. (The pronoun “he” comes she her, hers her
before its antecedent, “Mark.”) it its it
we our, ours us
Number: Like nouns, pronouns can be singular (I, one, he, they their, theirs them
she, it) or plural (we, they). do whose whom
Note: Use the correct form for a specific use in the sentence:
Gender: Like nouns, pronouns have natural gender, meaning
We (subject = nominative case) love summer.
that the pronouns and nouns have a gender based on the sex
It is I (predicate nominative = nominative case).
of the person or thing to which they refer:
Toys are we (predicate nominative = nominative case).
Masculine pronouns denote males (he, him, his);
Just between you and me (object of a preposition =
Feminine pronouns denote females (she, her, hers);
objective case), grammar is such fun!
Neuter pronouns denote inanimate or non-human things (it,
Is this yours (ownership = possessive case)
its);
Note: The possessive case of personal pronouns does not use
Common gender pronouns refer to males, females, and
the apostrophe.
inanimate objects (they, them, one).
Antecedent Agreement:
Person: The concept of person in verbs and pronouns refers
A pronoun and its antecedent must have the same number
to which role the verb or pronoun identifies in the act of
and gender.
communication.
Replace a singular, masculine noun (boy) with a singular,
FIRST PERSON (I, me, my, we, us, our, ours) denotes the
masculine pronoun (he):
speaker when referring to himself.
The boy said he was sick.
SECOND PERSON (you, your, yours, thou, thee, thy, thine,
Replace a singular, feminine noun (daughter) with a singular,
ye) denotes the person being spoken to.
feminine pronoun (she):
THIRD PERSON (he, him, his, she, her, hers, one, it, its,
My daughter said she was prepared.
they, their, theirs, them) denotes the person(s) or thing(s)
being spoken about.
Problems with Pronoun Agreement and Reference:
Types of Pronouns:
finding the antecedent can be a problem because of:
1. Personal: refer to the three persons involved in
a) Unclear, Distant, or Ambiguous Pronoun Reference:
communication (I, you, he, she, it, etc.)
John told Bill he was unprepared. (Who was unprepared?)
2. Impersonal: refer to non-humans (it, they)
The coach, along with the team members, staff, and
3. Relative: refer to a person or thing, begin a dependent
volunteers, brought his lunch. (The pronoun “his” refers to
clause, and relate that person or thing in the dependent
“coach.”)
clause to a noun or pronoun in the rest of the sentence
b) A Collective Noun Antecedent:
(who, whom, whose, which, what that)
The committee is preparing its work. (“Committee” is seen
Example: My doctor whom I trust fell out of bed and
as a single body; thus, the pronoun referring to
died.
“committee” is singular (“its”), as is the verb “is.”)
4. Demonstrative: point to something (this, these; that,
The committee are divided on their views. (“Committee”
those)
here is seen as individuals; thus, the pronoun referring to
5. Interrogative: ask questions (who? which? what?
“committee” and the verb “are” are plural.)
whose? whom?)
c) Several Possible Antecedents:
6. Reflexive: repeat or intensify the antecedent (I myself;
Neither Mary nor her sisters offered their help.
he himself; she herself; you yourself; they themselves;
Neither her sisters nor Mary offered her help.
we ourselves)
(Pronouns “either” and “neither” are singular; the
7. Reciprocal: express mutual action or relationship (each
antecedent is one or the other term, but not both. Thus,
other; one another)
choose the closer antecedent to determine the number of
8. Indefinite: refer to no specific person or thing:
the pronoun.
d) Indefinite Singular Pronoun Antecedents:
Singular: another anyone, anybody, anything someone,
Everybody had better shut his book, or he will be punished.
somebody, something, everyone, everybody, everything,
(The pronouns “everyone,” “everybody,” anyone,”
none, nobody, nothing, each, either, neither
“anybody,” “none,” “nobody,” “someone,” and “somebody”
Plural: several, some, many, few, all (at times)
are singular, though sometimes some seem plural; thus, they
take a singular pronoun to replace them in a sentence.)
e) An Antecedent Comes After the Pronoun:
When they finished, Jack and his brother went home.
(The writer must be alert to the antecedents.)
f) Inconsistent Person:
In this class, a student must work hard or you will fail.
Special English Ms. Khrisna Mae C. Gelogo
(Note the shift of person from third “student” to second
“you.” Be consistent in the person of the noun and pronoun:
In this class, a student must work hard or he will fail.)